Students at fee-paying and religious-run schools significantly outscored those at vocational schools in reading tests.
The analysis of 15-year-olds’ reading scores in the last international tests showed that different categories of second-level schools also had students from distinct mixes of socioeconomic backgrounds, as is generally understood.
Students in vocational schools were lowest on the socioeconomic index, with those in community and comprehensive schools a good bit higher.
The non-fee paying secondary schools, generally those run by or for religious orders, had the second-highest score, but students of fee-paying schools were significantly higher again on the socioeconomic scale.
There were corresponding results for Irish schools in OECD’s 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment tests, in which the country’s ranking fell significantly from previous comparisons.
According to analysis just published, students in vocational schools had an average reading score of 466 points, compared with 487 in community and comprehensive schools. The scores were 504 in non-fee-paying secondary schools, and 539 in fee-paying secondary schools.
"Clearly, achievement differences between school types in Ireland are related to the socioeconomic compositions of their student intakes, though less so than in the majority of OECD countries," said a briefing note from the Educational Research Centre (ERC).
But while vocational schools did not lag behind fee-paying schools as much as in other countries, TUI believes the gap could widen as the vocational schools where most of their members work are likely to feel the effects of cutbacks hardest.
"Some schools are getting extra supports from DEIS or other programmes, but they are barely enough to help these schools keep up with the rest, and those supports need to be increased instead of cut," said TUI education officer Bernie Judge.
The ERC said the different socioeconomic profiles of students at different types of schools are less varied than in other countries but are still significant.
Students in vocational schools were lowest on the socioeconomic index, with those in community and comprehensive schools a good bit higher.
The non-fee paying secondary schools, generally those run by or for religious orders, had the second-highest score, but students of fee-paying schools were significantly higher again on the socioeconomic scale.
There were corresponding results for Irish schools in OECD’s 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment tests, in which the country’s ranking fell significantly from previous comparisons.
According to analysis just published, students in vocational schools had an average reading score of 466 points, compared with 487 in community and comprehensive schools. The scores were 504 in non-fee-paying secondary schools, and 539 in fee-paying secondary schools.
"Clearly, achievement differences between school types in Ireland are related to the socioeconomic compositions of their student intakes, though less so than in the majority of OECD countries," said a briefing note from the Educational Research Centre (ERC).
But while vocational schools did not lag behind fee-paying schools as much as in other countries, TUI believes the gap could widen as the vocational schools where most of their members work are likely to feel the effects of cutbacks hardest.
"Some schools are getting extra supports from DEIS or other programmes, but they are barely enough to help these schools keep up with the rest, and those supports need to be increased instead of cut," said TUI education officer Bernie Judge.
The ERC said the different socioeconomic profiles of students at different types of schools are less varied than in other countries but are still significant.